WWE // 2009 // 177 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Franck Tabouring (Retired) // November 6th, 2009
It's the summer's biggest blockbuster.
WWE: SummerSlam 2009 is wrestling's biggest pay-per-view event each summer, and this year, the show descended on Los Angeles. Here's the complete lineup:
* Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler in an Intercontinental Championship
Match
Opening this year's WWE: SummerSlam are Rey Mysterio and
Dolph Ziggler, who both deliver a surprisingly solid opener with this title
match. Clocking in at 12 minutes, it's also a long enough matchup, giving both
wrestlers plenty of opportunities to show off their skills and fire up the
audience with a variety of high-risk maneuvers and a whole bunch of counter
moves. For a PPV opening battle, this one delivers the goods, which is exactly
what WWE fans expect from such an event.
* MVP vs. Jack Swagger
At 7 minutes, the match between MVP and Swagger
is shorter and less energetic than its predecessor. That said, this is by no
means a disappointment. The action between the two WWE stars slows down a bit
here and there, but all in all, they offer a clean, well-coordinated show
stuffed with enough powerful moves. This is one of those matches that are quite
enjoyable to watch but still end up being forgettable in the end. Nevertheless,
we're off to a solid start.
* Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Cryme Tyme in a Unified Tag Team Title
Match
One thing is for certain: all four athletes approach this title
match with the right attitude. Big Show looks a little out of place at times,
but other than that, he and his partner put on a decent show against the vibrant
Cryme Tyme team. Both teams execute a variety of different maneuvers. While some
are interesting, others fail to impress. A poor ending damages this otherwise
fast-paced battle.
* Kane vs. Great Khali
It had to happen. While the past three matches
promised a really good show, this 6-minute battle between Kane and Great Khali
is pretty lame. Khali's enormous size and weight slow him down most of the time,
which obviously slows down most of the action inside the ring. Sure, both men
deliver a variety of very powerful punches, but none of it is amusing enough to
watch for more than a minute or two. They just should've had Kane wrestle
someone else; that would've worked way better in this context.
* D-Generation X vs. Legacy
No title is on the line in this tag team
match, and that's just fine. Followed by a superb entrance by DX, this 18-minute
fight really gets the crowd going. Even though Triple H and Shawn Michaels are
the more experienced wrestlers, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase successfully
contribute to what is a well-coordinated, entertaining fight filled with
powerful, high-risk maneuvers and some interesting team action. I wouldn't count
this one among the best tag team matches I've seen at PPVs this year, but it's
anything but dull. Good match.
* Christian vs. William Regal in a ECW Championship Match
Ah! The WWE
writers sure know how to slow things down during a pay-per-view by totally
messing up at least one match. Sadly enough, they decided to sacrifice the ECW
Championship match this time. The matchup between Christian and Regal lasts for
only 10 seconds, and not one of them is worth it. Enough said.
* Randy Orton vs. John Cena in a WWE Championship Match
Drawing closer
to our main event, it's time for Orton and Cena to face off for the WWE title,
and to be honest with you, this one failed to win me over. I wouldn't call it a
boring matchup, but the several twists the show's writer decided to include just
feel out of place. Orton and Cena are both flexible athletes with the necessary
power to battle for a while, but somehow, this 21-minute faceoff doesn't really
give them the chance to make complete use of their skills. It's ridiculous.
* Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk in a TLC Match for the World Heavyweight
Championship
Luckily, the 20-minute main event rocks, with Punk and Hardy
giving it their best to impress viewers via a selection of crazy moves using
tables, chairs, and ladders. Both men really seem to push their own boundaries
at times, and that's exactly what makes this hardcore battle so engaging. The
high-risk maneuvers look impressive, and all the hits with chairs and ladders
add to the match's dramatic value. Plus, you'll get to see Hardy pull off a
totally insane dive that easily turns this one into the highlight of the entire
PPV. It's without a doubt a strong way to finish a decent show.
WWE: SummerSlam 2009 is presented in full frame, and I have no complaints when it comes to the quality of both picture and sound. It looks and sounds good.
The bonus material on the disc includes a short clip taken from a 15-Diva Battle Royal match recorded before the live broadcast of the PPV. It's too bad they didn't include the entire match, because watching a brief recap of it is pretty much a waste of time. My suggestion to the WWE: beef up these special features or just drop them all together.
WWE: SummerSlam 2009 is undoubtedly one of the better WWE pay-per-views this year. Despite three forgettable matches, it still offers some great wrestling action.
Not guilty.
Review content copyright © 2009 Franck Tabouring; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2013 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Judgment: 86
Perp Profile
Studio: WWE
Video Formats:
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English)
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (Spanish)
Subtitles:
* None
Running Time: 177 Minutes
Release Year: 2009
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* 15-Diva Battle Royal Clip
Accomplices
* Official Site
http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/